Favorite playoff memory: Turco recalls four-OT game with Stars

NHL.com is looking ahead to the Stanley Cup Playoffs by having former players discuss their favorite postseason game each Sunday and Monday. Today, Dallas Stars goalie Marty Turco recalls a 2-1 series-clinching victory in four overtimes against the San Jose Sharks in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals, on May 4, 2008.

Overtime games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs were nothing new to Marty Turco.
Turco's most memorable playoff game came when the Dallas Stars defeated the San Jose Sharks 2-1 in four overtimes in Game 6 of the second round of the 2008 playoffs. Turco, now president of the Dallas Stars Foundation, saved 61 of 62 shots in the eighth-longest playoff game in NHL history (69 minutes, 3 seconds of overtime).
"It's the only time we got to the Western Conference Final when I was the guy, so clearly it was the biggest moment," said Turco, who was 275-167-40 with 26 ties, a 2.36 goals-against average and .910 save percentage in 543 career NHL games with the Stars, Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins. "You used to talk about saves you dream of, but the games, too. You want to be in Game 6s and 7s and overtime and winning and being able to have a chance to make a difference.
"My wife Kelly was far along with our third child [son Finley], and they don't like to sit down in overtime in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, so she was on her feet for a long time. But the warrior she is, she made it through and finally got to see us win a lengthy overtime one."
Turco played in several memorable overtime games during his career. He played in a 4-3, five-overtime loss to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in Game 1 of the 2003 Western Conference Semifinals and in Dallas' 5-4, four-overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks in Game 1 of the 2007 quarterfinals, but the game against the Sharks rises above the others.

Forward Antti Miettinen gave the Stars a 1-0 lead 4:49 into the second period before Sharks forward Ryane Clowe tied it at 1-1 1:39 into the third. Stars forward Brad Richards had a great chance to end the game 1:31 into the first overtime, but Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabokov reached out to make the glove save.
"It was a save that, I wouldn't say I was jealous of, because I've been in lengthy overtimes and lost, but because those are the saves you dream of," Turco said of Nabokov. "It's a glove save, on the goal line, in overtime, and the only thing missing was his team scoring to give some credence to that save. You could really argue it was in, you just can't definitely tell 100 percent."
About 10 minutes later it was Turco's turn to make a dazzling save. He kicked his right leg up to deflect a shot from Sharks forward Patrick Marleau, then knocking Marleau's rebound attempt away with his right foot.
"That was shortly after Nabokov's amazing save, so I had to retort in my own way," Turco said. "[Marleau] had one good crack and I made kind of a Grant Fuhr flying kick save and then he got another whack at it, and he's pretty close to the goal line. But I somehow got it falling back toward the net. I had to do something with my legs to keep it out. But there were a multitude of instances that were close calls."
Given his overtime experience, Turco said he felt pretty good against the Sharks. He took intravenous fluids after the third period and after each overtime. Nevertheless, by the start of the fourth overtime, it was getting to him.
"I'll tell you what, I was getting a little hot because we went another three periods, and no one had scored yet," Turco said. "And I'm like, OK, if someone doesn't score, I need a hero, please? I need a hero. And I got one in the form of our captain, No. 10, Brenden Morrow."
Morrow had already made a physical impact in the game with his massive hit on Sharks forward Milan Michalek along the boards with about 10 seconds remaining in regulation. Michalek would not return. And it was Morrow, 9:03 into the fourth overtime, on Dallas' fourth power play of the game, who pushed the series-winning goal past Nabokov's stick side.

Turco and Morrow tried to hug each other first, but the rest of the Stars reached Morrow before he could get to the other end of the ice.
"It was two best friends and old roommates trying to get to each other, and he was mobbed for obvious reasons," Turco said. "It was kind of a blur at that point. It was like Ms. Pacman, Brendan and I trying to do the meet somewhere in the middle."
The Stars advanced to the Western Conference Final, where they played the Detroit Red Wings. Turco said that four-overtime game and series against the Sharks took its toll physically.
"I mean, it was an infirmary after that one," he said. "There were arms, legs and hips, and guys just weren't the same and we had to pack up and head to Detroit the next day. So that was not the sight we wanted to see, and we ran into a great team and just couldn't get our legs back under us and get healthy enough to put up too much of a fight. We got to six [games], but they went on and went to the [Stanley Cup] Final."

The Stars fell short of the Final in 2008, but their epic Game 6 against the Sharks will always be one of Turco's favorite memories. It was the fourth overtime game in the series.
"The town was back, itching for another deep playoff run, we had good teams, and it was a fun run. That sucker's tough to win, but that was a big game," Turco said. "Sometimes you think, 'man, I wish I could score a goal.' But at the same time, you know what your job is to do. Everyone, just the look on their faces, diving at pucks and people crashing the net, it's hockey at its most intense. Those are my greatest memories in the NHL, just being in overtime in the Stanley Cup Playoffs."